Few pitchers managed to handcuff Barry Bonds quite like Greg Maddux.

In 157 plate appearances against one another, Bonds hit .265 and struck out 16 times against Maddux. The all-time home run king did add to his tally nine times against the Cy Young Award winner, however.

Yet as the two saw each other Tuesday afternoon, neither could hold back a smile and a chuckle when looking back at the past.

Bonds, now an advisor to the CEO for the San Francisco Giants, returned to his alma mater to throw out the first pitch before Arizona State’s game against UNLV. The Sun Devils chose to honor Bonds’ legacy at the school by donning special throwback uniforms like the ones Bonds wore when he was at ASU.

Maddux is currently a volunteer pitching coach for UNLV, giving him and Bonds a chance to see an old friend.

“I’m really excited to see Greg Maddux, the best pitcher in the world,” Bonds said. “I didn’t know he was going to be out here. This is a good reunion for me. He was the best technician I’ve ever seen in the game of baseball. Very smart guy, IQ off the chart.”

Before Bonds hit an all-time best 762 homers and became the only big leaguer to ever earn seven MVP awards, he was a Sun Devil. He knocked 45 career homers as a Sun Devil and was part of a pair of ASU teams that would take part in the College World Series.

The names Bonds, as well as the program, are associated with, are illustrious. Bonds was recruited by and played under the late Dr. Jim Brock, who compiled a 1,100-400 record and won two national titles as ASU’s head coach. Bonds said he and Brock remained close up until his 1994 death, and that his mother and Brock’s wife remain close.

“We had the same birthday, so we had the same attitude,” Bonds said. “He was a good coach. We’ve been really close since I’ve been in college, and coach Brock and I have always been close, all the way to the end. We’ve been family forever.”

Bonds said he is just a part of a large baseball culture at Arizona State, where the program has won 30-plus games in 56 consecutive seasons – the longest streak in the NCAA – and has produced more big leaguers than any other program in college baseball.

Influenced by Sun Devil legends and relatives Reggie Jackson and Alvin Davis, Bonds chose ASU. He never regretted the decision.

“I always knew about Arizona State and the tradition, and it speaks for itself,” Bonds said. “There’s great weather all the time, great baseball community throughout Arizona. They produce great baseball players out of Arizona, period.

“It’s good just to be a part of it with the whole group. I don’t think I stand out more than anyone else. If you get your name on that board, (you’re set). It’s just getting your name on the board. I don’t think I’m above anyone else on that board. We’re there together.”

Bonds chose to attend Arizona State after graduating from Junipero Serra High School in northern California. He said he needed the time spent at school to grow and mature as a person, and attributed much of his progression as a player and pro to his time in Tempe.

He advocated that more players chose college over the MLB Draft, saying the guidance players receive during this time is invaluable.

“I think college is way better than getting drafted out of high school,” Bonds said. “I don’t think you’re ready. I didn’t do it, I don’t really recommend it. I think the life obstacles you need to go through, and just going within the game itself, the college experience is the way to go. You have more margin for error, you can find yourself a little bit.”

Bonds, who previously threw out the first pitch when the program was still at Packard Stadium, was impressed with the new facilities the program has at Phoenix Municipal Stadium – the former Spring Training home of the Oakland Athletics.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Bonds said. “This place is better than some major league stadiums. Their locker room, I was dying. We had a trailer when I was going to school here. We’d get dressed and just walk over and then we had to go over to the activity center to get most of our stuff. This is a beautiful space.”

Bonds said he was surprised, yet excited when he heard that his former school would be honoring him.

“It’s special,” Bonds said. “Any time you get to go to your alma mater, it’s awesome. There’s nothing better than that. Nothing. It’s nice. You play baseball as a kid, but to come back to my high school or come back to your college to be recognized, it’s always going to be special.”

When he arrived, the first man to greet him was Maddux. The two legends meet again.

Bonds spoke with ASU head coach Tracy Smith as well as the entire program before Tuesday’s game, giving the man who is arguably the best ever to play the game a chance to impart his wisdom.

“Any time someone wants your input on something, you’ve got to feel good about it,” Bonds said. “I went to school in baseball and then I mastered it and now I have my PhD and it’s my turn to teach. Sooner or later, they’ll get theirs and they’ll be teaching.”